The road is quiet, so there are no people and cars on the street because they knew and felt Zarod's presence was just near the place. That's why he said he works alone, not because his co-workers were asleep but he may have killed them as well. He really challenges me. It was a miracle that I was not killed by his eyes.
I pulled him away from me and ran towards the exit door. I forced the door to open. I was startled by his quick movement, and he was right in front of me. My eyes widened as he touched my neck with his left hand. What is he planning to do? I was even more nervous when I saw his long nails. He pressed his grip on my neck and forcefully pierced his sharp nails into my neck. I can feel the gradual tearing of the skin on my neck.
"Ah!" I twitched in pain. "H-Help!" Someone help me, please. Anyone? I continued to shout but I got no response.
"How miserable," he murmured with no expression on his face.
I punched his left arm with my right hand and kicked him to release me from the stranglehold. When he released me, I immediately ran because I was looking for something.
"You're not getting away."
I let him chase me until he accidentally broke the fire extinguisher's glass panel. I picked it up and pressed something. I faced the fire extinguisher on his face. While he is busy, I smashed the glass door with a chair. The glass on the door is thick so I hit it more and with all my might until it finally broke some fragments. Even though the hole I made wasn't that big, I am able to fit it.
I threw the chair over Zarod's head when he grabbed my hair. I gave him a punch in the face. I came out using the hole in the glass I made. I suffered from scratches and small wounds because of the sharp glass. As I ran, I accidentally stumbled. I forgot it was snowing here. I immediately got up and ran again but I was more careful. I stopped at an abandoned house and hid on the side. I sat down and rubbed my bleeding neck and right knee. I hugged my knees. I feel the pain as tears dripped from it. The cold temperature helped to numb my body somehow, but it didn't numb my emotional pain. Why did First leave me? We would've had a chance to defeat Zarod, and the game would have ended earlier than expected. I don't know if I was crying because of the pain in my knee and neck or because of First. Our lives are at stake here, so he shouldn't have left me. A single mistake earlier can be the cost of our lives.
I resumed walking. I rubbed my neck and knee to wipe the blood. I looked at the Big Ben. It is 2:35 am. I hung out at that convenience store for two hours. I guess I have been walking for hours.
"Second! Where are you? Are you alright? Did that Zarod hurt you?!"
My tears flowed again when I heard the voice of the one I'd been waiting for. Why am I crying? I shouldn't be crying.
I did not speak. "Hey, answer me. Are you okay? Please, Second answer me."
But maybe, this is the consequence of earlier. I didn't immediately listen to him when he revealed that the cashier man Zarod. I was allured by Zarod's eyes that it took me a moment before breaking into his eyes.
"Please answer me. I don't know what I'll do if you get hurt. I want to hear your voice…"
Didn't he hear me speaking a while ago during the attack? I constantly communicate and ask for help but there's not a single response. Can't he see me? Didn't he see that Zarod was about to kill me? Why is he asking me where I am and if I'm hurt when he should know because he's watching over me from the screens?
"First?" I answered him as well.
"Second?!"
"I'm fine. I'm far from the convenience store. I've walked for more than an hour, but I don't know where I am." I observed the area where I am now. "I can still see the Big Ben, there are small houses—"
"Damn, I'm so worried. Are you hurt?" There was another hint of concern in his voice.
I sighed. I could see the white smoke coming out of my nose and mouth.
"Yes. The truth is, I got cornered by Zarod, but I was lucky enough to escape."
When I heard First's overly concerned voice, I had lost my bad temper with him.
"I'm sorry."
We both fell silent for a moment. I know I am mad at him. However, I shouldn't let my emotions control me. We are still a team. I should communitcate with him to patch things up.
"Why, First? Did something happen and you didn't control me?" I want to hear his side.
"Actually... yes. I did something to the system to prevent you from dying and the result is that we lost our communication and I couldn't control you while you were engaging with the enemy. As of now, I cannot see you here on the screens for the next five hours. It also has to do with the system that prevented you from dying while having eye contact with that monster."
I was stunned by what he said. I trembled in fear. I gasped. I was supposed to be a corpse a moment ago. Then it will be game over for both of us.
When I talked to Zarod earlier, I was about to die in the glare of Zarod. And the result of avoiding my death was that I couldn't talk to him a while ago, and now he can't see me on the screens where he controls me for the next five hours. That explains everything. It's better that I have suffered from minor wounds rather than an exchange of my life.